Executive Summary

Jillian Kasun

Mr. Cuttrell and Ms. Green

Systems Engineering II

7 September 2016

Executive Summary

            Skin acts as a barrier to the environment. Stingrays have a layer of mucus to defend against diseases and protect the immune system, producing a slimy texture. When designing the exterior of the stingray, I analyzed materials’ texture. The model must submerge, requiring a water resistant and durable material. Stingrays undulate their wings and use the water to propel. I took into account the flexibility of materials to allow for movement. Stingrays’ brown color camouflages with the ocean floor. The material requires lasting paint.

            Silicone molds replicate items, allowing for reproduction. Gelatin and Algentine create a negative mold when applied to a sculpture. Latex produces a cast when poured into a silicone mold or negative mold, forming a texture similar to the stingray. Latex requires layers to obtain thickness.

            Stingrays’ eyes protrude from the dorsal side. The ventral side of the stingray includes the mouth, gills, and nostrils. I took these features into account when designing the exterior. The silicone mold and the negative mold need a sculpture to replicate. The clay sculpture must include these body structures to appear as a stingray.

            Residing in California, Marc’s Creature Company created a stingray solely out of silicone, lacking coding. Our team strives to produce a model that does not require manual assistance. The exterior mimics skin, coating the stingray. The cast encases the internal supporting structure and centralized programming system. The internal structures limit the weight of the outer shell. The model’s exterior must mimic the appearance, texture, and movement of a real cownose stingray.